Our Mission, Values and Goals

Last updated - November 2024

Program Overview

Nakkertok’s Race Program is made up of more than 250 athletes, ages 8 and up. Athletes are divided into training groups by age and adaptations: U10 (Mini RacingRabbits), U12 (Racing Rabbits), U14, U16, U18, U20/23 and older on ENRG (Equipe Nakkertok Racing Group) and ParaNordic.

Programs for athletes U12 and older are led by professional coaches with support from professional staff. Lead coaches for all programs are supported by volunteer coaches (parents, youth, alumni, other).

Lead coaches for each program, as well as parent coordinators for U10 to U18 programs, sit on the Race Committee, along with a Trip Coordinator, Volunteer Coach representative, Race Program Volunteer Coordinator, Fundraising Coordinator, Race Program Treasurer and Athlete representatives and a Board Liaison member. The Race Committee is chaired by the volunteer Chair of the Racing Committee. It meets monthly to coordinate and take decisions on operational and strategic matters for the Race Program, and to align Race Program planning and decisions with the directions and decisions from the Nakkertok Board of Directors as needed (e.g. overall annual budget).

The Race Program’s values, mission and performance goals fit within and align with the Nakkertok Ski Club’s overall mission and mandate as currently articulated within the club’s Strategic Plan for 2019-2024.

Nakkertok Ski Club's Overall Mission/Mandate

Nakkertok’s Mission:

“To achieve excellence in cross-country skiing and to grow the interest in skiing within the Ottawa/Gatineau region, through a club community that provides facilities and learning support to all ages of skiers and their families.”

Nakkertok’s Mandate:

Race Program Values

The Nakkertok Nordic Race Program reflect the following values:

Valuing each other as individuals by providing equal opportunity and fair treatment to each participant for fulfilling their potential as a community member and as a person in their respective roles as an athlete, coach, volunteer, etc.

Appreciating and recognizing the critical roles of volunteers and professional coaches/staff for the program to be successful.

Acting with integrity and expecting active, open, and honest sharing of information and ideas, while listening carefully to and respecting the opinions of others.

Enabling and being accessible as possible to athletes of all ages (8 and above), abilities and backgrounds in the pursuit of competing in cross-country ski races and cross-country skiing as a lifelong activity.

Accepting different athlete goals and levels of commitment to skiing, with coaches allowing athletes’ goals to take precedence over their own.

Striving to meet the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive needs of each athlete, including by acting in their best long-term interests, using the Long Term Athlete Development Guidelines to do so.

Providing a SafeSport environment and managing program and activity risk to an appropriate level.

Promoting and contributing to the success of the overall Nakkertok Ski Club beyond just the Race Program, recognizing its many benefits.

Contributing to the success and growth of the broader competitive ski racing community in the National Capital Region, Ontario and Quebec regions, and nationally.

Race Program Mission (What are we trying to achieve?)

Provide coaching, training, athlete support, fellowship and racing opportunities for athletes that allows them to achieve their full athletic and human potential in cross-country ski competitions, develop a lifelong love of sport, and become valued teammates and members of the cross-country skiing community within Nakkertok and more broadly.

Goals (What do we have to do to achieve our mission?)

The Nakkertok Race Program aims to:

Create an environment where athletes and their families feel safe, have fun, look forward to participating in Race Program and other club activities, and value and enjoy the company of their teammates and fellow club members.

Provide athletes with access to the levels of qualified coaching and athlete support at each age cohort that is necessary for them to reach and improve their athletic potential, that creates a supportive competitive training environment, while making participation in the program as affordable as possible.

Provide the level of opportunity and support to athletes to participate in training camps and in races that will allow them to meet or exceed their personal athletic objectives.

Increase or at least maintain the overall number of athletes in the program, with active participation across all adaptations and age cohorts from U10 to U20+, without diluting the quality of service and level of satisfaction for each athlete.

Maintain the level of success in developing athletes that are competitive in regional, provincial, national, and international-level races, with Nakkertok athletes qualifying to join provincial and National Ski Team programs or race trips.